Synthesis, purification and characterization of <i>Plectonema</i> derived AgNPs with elucidation of the role of protein in nanoparticle stabilization
Almaz Zaki, Md. Nafe Aziz, Rakhshan Ahmad, Irshad Ahamad, Mohammad Shadab Ali, Durdana Yasin, Bushra Afzal, Syed Mansoor Ali, Anita Chopra, Vijay Hadda, Pooja Srivastava, Raj Kumar, Tasneem Fatma
Abstract
(1 mM)], pH 7.4, and 30 °C reaction temperatures. Synthesis of nanoparticles was monitored by UV-vis spectrophotometry and the maximum absorbance was observed at a wavelength of 420 nm. SEM with EDX analysis confirmed 96.85% silver by weight which revealed the purity of AgNPs. TEM & XRD analysis exhibited a particle size of ∼12 nm with crystalline nature. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of possible biomolecules involved in the synthesis and stabilization of AgNPs. Decapping of AgNPs followed by SDS-PAGE, LCMS and MALDI TOF analysis elucidates the proteinaceous nature of the capping and stabilizing agent. Cyanobacterial-derived capped AgNPs showed more cytotoxicicity towards a non-small cell lung cancer (A549) cell line, free radical scavenger and an antimicrobial than de-capped AgNPs. In addition they showed significant synergistic characteristics with antibiotics and fungicides. The test revealed that the capped AgNPs were biocompatible with good anti-inflammatory properties. The blend of antimicrobial and biocompatible properties, coupled with their intrinsic "green" and facile synthesis, made these biogenic nanoparticles particularly attractive for future applications in nanomedicine.